Boston, Massachusetts
Among the top 12% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 12% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 31% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 61% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 88% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 24% of US places
- top 1% for natural disaster risk
- top 1% for airport distance
- bottom 2% for cost of living
Boston is a major city in Massachusetts with about 666,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and D for affordability. Standout strengths include natural disaster risk, airport distance, and walkability. It rates lower on violent crime and cost of living.
Official websiteboston.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
cold
v.cold
56%44%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.3 in3.8 in
humid 100%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$89k79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$82kbetter than 2% of US places
Home Value$685k95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$2kbetter than 6% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$3kbetter than 8% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.60%better than 81% of US places
Income Tax9.00%better than 17% of US places
Sales Tax6.25%better than 81% of US places
Estimated total tax burden15.66%better than 15% of US places
Unemployment6.6%better than 27% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)29°F39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation49.4 in76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall49.2 inbetter than 14% of US places
Sunny Days181 daysbetter than 9% of US places
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 64% of US places
Comfortable Days98 daysbetter than 84% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk8.9better than 99% of US places
Air Quality45 AQIbetter than 57% of US places
School Quality100.0better than 93% of US places
Violent Crime2433/100kbetter than 4% of US places
Property Crime1825/100kbetter than 23% of US places
Community
Population665,945100th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age32.915th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.6898th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9337th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+641st percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)44.2%15th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)21.0%90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)19.6%85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)9.6%95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.7%75th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time31 minbetter than 22% of US places
Walkability14.7/20better than 99% of US places
Airport Distance4 mibetter than 99% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.6%better than 63% of US places
Amenities Nearby33.07better than 30% of US places
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 16% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Boston an affordable place to live?
- Boston is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $82k, better than 2% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Boston?
- The median home value in Boston is $685k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Boston?
- Median household income in Boston is $89k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Boston?
- Median gross rent in Boston is $2k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Boston safe?
- Boston is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2433/100k (better than 4%). Property crime is 1825/100k.
- What is the weather like in Boston?
- Boston averages 74°F in July and 29°F in January, with 49.4 in of annual precipitation and about 181 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Boston?
- Public-school quality in Boston is above average, scoring better than 93% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Boston?
- The average one-way commute in Boston is 31 min.
Other places in Suffolk County
Places near Boston
Compare Boston
Explore Massachusetts
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)